Lithuania was not ready for the opening of the Taiwanese representative office, it was a mistake — Seimas Speaker
"It is necessary to normalize relations with China and strengthen economic ties with Taiwan."
Juozas Olekas. Photo: Seimas of Lithuania
Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas says that Lithuania did not properly prepare for the opening of the Taiwanese representative office in 2021, and therefore it was a mistake. According to the head of parliament, the ruling coalition, in making this statement, aims not to close the representative office, but to improve cooperation with Taipei, writes LRT.
"We did not prepare to work with Taiwan before making this decision [on opening the representative office], to gain sufficient economic return from Taiwan. Secondly, we did not work properly with partners and allies to ensure wider acceptance of the decision; we remained the only ones. (...) I have repeatedly had to communicate with representatives of other European countries; they support us in a friendly way but do not follow this example," Olekas said on the "LRT Forum" program on Monday.
"We say that we acknowledge that at that time, making such a decision with such preparation was a mistake; much greater support from allies was needed," the Seimas Speaker noted.
According to him, the ruling coalition has never stated the need to close the Taiwanese representative office and is not pursuing that.
"Should we always remain silent after taking such a step? This is said so that we can strengthen current ties with the Taiwanese as well," Olekas said.
"To tell it like it is, is not a sin. (...) What the government is doing now, what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing, it seems to me, are necessary things that were insufficiently done before. (...) It is necessary to normalize relations with China and strengthen economic ties with Taiwan," he added.
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that Lithuania's goal in relations with Taiwan is "a good plan for economic cooperation."
"I am working on this with Taiwan. (...) This is normal bilateral cooperation, the kind we want in economy, culture, and other areas. In the economic field, we want to achieve certain indicators and are working [on this]," said the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.
According to Budrys, "there is no such question on the agenda" as closing the Taiwanese representative office.
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